Abbey Church at Fort-Augustus.
An appeal has been issued for funds for the erection of a stone building instead of the iron and wood structure that has been doing service at Fort-Augustus. The faithful are encouraged to come forward with their contributions by the following promise as given in the Monitor:—”Mass will be offered each Sunday for the good estate and intentions of all contributors till the church is blessed and opened. Donors will participate also in the monthly and yearly Masses offered for all living and deceased benefactors of the Abbey, as well as in the prayers said daily.” From which we learn that Rome can still use the Mass as an instrument for enriching her coffers. It is lamentable that people in these enlightened days should be influenced by such an appeal.
The Oath of Cardinal Bourne.
Monsignor Moyes, in a letter to the Tablet of 16th December, states that, by Papal authority, Roman Catholic Bishops in England do not swear to persecute all heretics to the utmost of their power. But he admits that in Rome the new Cardinal Bourne took an oath in which the words appear, “I will persecute all heretics to the utmost of my power,” though he argues that the word should be “prosecute,” not “persecute.” But even if this were admitted (which it is not by Protestant controversialists), it must be remembered that a prosecution may be undertaken in such a way as to make it practically persecution. And history proves how Popish Bishops have persecuted Protestant men to death in hundreds of cases. Cardinal Bourne is now a sworn persecutor of Protestants, under the name of “heretics.”—Protestant Observer.
Roman Catholics and the recent Papal Decree.
That the recent Papal decree has caused serious concern to many Roman Catholics is evident by the attempt made by leading Papal ecclesiastics to give an explanation that will set at rest the questionings of many of their people. At the recent Westminster Council Meeting the decree was discussed and, in answer to a question put by one of the delegates, the whole difficulty was solved, according to the Monitor, by saying that it had been ascertained that the decree did not apply to Ireland, England or Scotland. All of which goes to shew that Jesuit sophistry is still practised by the Church of Rome in Britain.
The “Ne Temere” Decree.
It is evident that the Pope’s “Ne Temere” decree on mixed marriages has already raised doubts as to its wisdom amongst English Roman Catholics. The Catholic Herald, of 16th December, in a leading article, remarks:—”Is the ‘Ne Temere’ decree a success? Does it stop mixed marriages? Or are such marriages more numerous than before? Various opinions are expressed on the subject by Catholics. The matter is one of supreme importance, and the facts with regard to the results must, of course, be awaited patiently before any reliable deductions can be made. If its effects in these countries should be to send more and more Catholics to be married at registry offices, and then to keep them away altogether from the Church, no doubt the subject will be again carefully considered in future years.”—Protestant Observer.